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Aaarrrgghh darted into the first alcove he came across eliciting a yelp of surprise from the human who was also there.
“Sorry,” Aaarrrgghh said, giving her a gentle smile. “Sun coming, needed shelter.”
The woman, slightly portly with skin that was a pleasant earthy shade, glanced at the sky.
“I see. Would you like to come inside?” She gave him a hesitant but genuine smile.
“Can I?”
Most of the businesses were rather hesitant for a troll of Aaarrrgghh’s size to enter, even if they weren’t scared of him.
“Of course,” She said with a chuckle. “The library is open to everyone. You are a bit early, but I think I can make an exception in this case.”
Aaarrrgghh blinked and looked at the building. He hadn’t recognized it with how light it was now.
“Thanks,” He rumbled.
“You’re quite welcome,” She said and finished unlocking the door.
Aaarrrgghh followed her carefully in. The building smelled of paper, ink, and glue, with just a hint of ozone from the computers. Aaarrrgghh smiled fondly.
“So what’s your name, dear, if you don’t mind my asking?”
“Aaarrrgghh, with three Rs,” Aaarrrgghh said holding up his fingers.
“A pleasure to meet you… Aaarrrgghh,” She hesitated before trying his name but ultimately got it right. “My name is Ms. Cynthia. I’m the librarian.”
“Nice to meet,” Aaarrrgghh replied, delicately taking the offered hand.
He decided that he liked her.
Aaarrrgghh settled alongside her desk as Ms. Cynthia bustled around the building. He ended up dozing a little, soothed by the smells of the library. As it got lighter outside people started trickling in. There were a few sounds of surprise at the sight of the large Krubera resting by the circulation desk, but no one tried to make him leave.
“Are you sure? I could send someone to pick him up…”
Aaarrrgghh was brought back to consciousness by the sound of Ms. Cynthia’s voice.
“But the children were…” She sighed. “Yes… I understand. Maybe next week?... Okay. Goodbye.”
“What wrong?” Aaarrrgghh asked, sitting up.
Ms. Cynthia yelped and put a hand to her chest.
“Oh dear, I forgot you were there.”
Aaarrrgghh chuckled. “Sorry.”
“As to your question: We have a dog that comes in on Saturdays. He stays in the children’s section and the children can read to him.” She set the phone back in its cradle with a sigh. “It’s a fun way to encourage them to read, but unfortunately he can’t come today. His owner is sick.”
Aaarrrgghh wasn’t quite sure what to make of that.
“Children sad?” He asked hesitantly.
Ms. Cynthia sighed.
“Unfortunately, but it happens occasionally.”
Aaarrrgghh hummed, thinking for a moment. The children liked to read to the dog. Blinky used to read to him. He missed that and wondered if his partner did too. A slow grin formed across his face as an idea came to him.
“Children could read to Aaarrrgghh,” He offered.
The librarian blinked at that tilting her head back to look at him.
“To you?” She asked, sounding surprised.
“If… okay with them,” Aaarrrgghh said carefully. “Don’t want to scare.”
Ms. Cynthia hummed, twinning some of her hair around a finger. The tightly coiled texture reminded him a bit of the Quagawumps’.
“I can’t guarantee they won’t be scared of you,” She said finally. “But I think it’s worth a try. Would that be okay?”
“Okay,” Aaarrrgghh said.
When the parents and children arrived they hovered just outside of the reading area. Aaarrrgghh’s presence had become largely accepted and normal in Arcadia but seeing him hunkered down in the middle of the reading area seemed to be throwing them off. Fortunately before any of them could leave Ms. Cynthia walked in.
“Excellent, it looks like we have a good group today!” She said with a relaxed smile.
“What’s he doing here,” One of the parents interrupted, voice tense.
“I was just about to introduce him,” She said without missing a beat. “This is Aaarrrgghh. Mr. Snickers couldn’t make it today, so Aaarrrgghh volunteered to take his place.”
“Hi,” Aaarrrgghh said. He gave the kids a little wave but didn’t get up. A few of them waved back.
“He’s really big,” A small boy with hair the color of sandstone whispered loudly to his Mom.
A few of the kids were peering from behind their parents’ legs, but one or two had come out and looked inclined to investigate.
“Who would like to go first?” Ms. Cynthia asked.
These was a moment of silence and Aaarrrgghh’s ears started to droop. He didn’t want to scare them, but it seemed that…
“Me!” A little girl in a brown vest piped up.
“Wait!” Another girl with darker skin, a tone just a shade lighter from Ms. Cynthia’s, pushed forward. “You got to go first last time.”
Like the first stones of an avalanche the two bounded forward, several of the bolder kids following quickly behind. Aaarrrgghh blinked in surprise as they swarmed around him.
“Henry don’t…!” One of the parents started to say as one of the boys reached for his mane.
“It's okay,” Aaarrrgghh interrupted her as he carefully lowered his head to lay as flat as he could.
“Perhaps,” Ms. Cynthia said in an amused tone as she blocked one of the more overeager children from climbing on him. “But they need to ask first.”
She clapped her hands together drawing the children’s attention.
“What did we learn about space bubbles?” She asked once all their eyes were on her.
“Always ask before popping them,” Several of the kids chorused.
Aaarrrgghh cocked his head at that, having never really heard anything like that before. He would have to ask later. The human whelps were now turning back to him.
“Can I touch your hair please?” One of the girls asked.
Aaarrrgghh nodded and she let out a little squeal of delight. He held himself perfectly still as she approached. He felt a little tug and a soft pressure against his shoulder as she began exploring his mane.
“It’s so fluffy!” She whispered excitedly to her friend.
“Can I touch it too?” Another girl asked.
Soon Aaarrrgghh had half a dozen kids braiding and playing with his hair. A few more were using him as a climbing rock. They all took turns reading books to him. Aaarrrgghh liked the ones with colorful pictures the best.
All of them read a little different. Some read quick and confident, others slow and careful, sounding out each word. Aaarrrgghh thought they were all wonderful and listened intently.
The parents gradually relaxed. A few wandered off to do their own reading, or whatever grown-up humans did at libraries. A few were watching or listening to the reading. One had been talked into sitting up against Aaarrrgghh by his daughter.
Aaarrrgghh hadn’t had this much fun since Toby first invited him to play gogo sushi.
“Do I have to go?” Little Alicia whined staring up at her Mom from under Aaarrrgghh’s chin.
“Yes. The library will be closing soon,” Her Mom said.
“Awww, but I like talking to Mr. Aaarrrgghh.”
She emphasized his name by clawing at the air as she drew out the “r”s. Children really did do the best at pronouncing it right, Aaarrrgghh thought.
“Like talking to Alicia too,” Aaarrrgghh said, very carefully patting her head.
Alicia giggled and beamed up at him. Aaarrrgghh smiled back.
“Well maybe you can talk to him another day?” Alicia’s Mom said.
Alicia pouted and then looked at Aaarrrgghh hopefully.
“Will you come again? Please, please, please?”
Aaarrrgghh chuckled and then thought about it. Cynthia had said that the library was open to everyone.
“Will try,” Aaarrrgghh said.
Alicia let out a little squeal of delight and then wrapped her arms around his face.
“Thank you Mr. Aaarrrgghh.”
Her Mom held her hand out to her again and this time she took it and allowed herself to be lead away, stopping every few steps to turn back and wave at Aaarrrgghh. He waved back each time.
“I think that went well,” Ms. Cynthia said when Aaarrrgghh arrived at the front desk. “Did you have fun?”
“Yes,” Aaarrrgghh said.
“I’m glad to hear that,” Ms. Cynthia smiled.
“Could help tomorrow?” Aaarrrgghh asked hesitantly.
Ms. Cynthia blinked and then looked at him with her eyebrows raised.
“You’d like to help out regularly?”
Aaarrrgghh nodded.
A wide smile appeared on Ms. Cynthia’s face making her dark eyes positively sparkled.
“Of course you can dear! We’d love to have you.”
A contented rumble built up in Aaarrrgghh’s chest and then spilled out in a purr. Ms. Cynthia’s eyes widened at the sound for a moment before she brought up a hand to stifle her giggle.
“Oh, hold on for a second!”
Aaarrrgghh watched as Ms. Cynthia darted behind her desk. After a moment she returned and held out a little plastic rectangle. Aaarrrgghh cocked his head curiously.
“It’s a library card,” She explained. “It will allow you to borrow books and shows that you’re a member of the library.”
“Could you put a hole in it?” Aaarrrgghh asked.
“We do have a keychain one… hold on a second…”
After a moment Ms. Cynthia produced a slightly smaller card with a hole.
Aaarrrgghh reached up and took one of his ear-rings off and threaded it through the card and then reattached it.
“There.”
“I guess that’s one way to carry it,” Ms. Cynthia said with a little chuckle. “Well I need to close up now. So if you’d come with me to the door.”
Aaarrrgghh followed her and then stood with her as she locked up the door.
“I look forward to seeing you tomorrow!” Ms. Cynthia said with a final bright smile.
“See you tomorrow,” Aaarrrgghh echoed.
He watched as she walked off to her car before turning to head home himself. He paused for a moment to feel his new braids and library card. A rumbling purr welled up again in his chest. He let it spill out into the night air as he made his way through the darkened streets of Arcadia.